Status: 04.06.2022 4:50 p.m
The CDU actually excludes cooperation with the AfD. In Thuringia, however, she could push through a law on wind turbines with the help of the AfD. Federal politicians of the traffic light are appalled and demand a word of power from party leader Merz.
The traffic light parties have warned the CDU against collaborating with the AfD in Thuringia and thus breaking a taboo. SPD General Secretary Kevin Kühnert told the “Spiegel” that leadership is now required in the CDU, because the authority of party leader Friedrich Merz is also being challenged in the state parliament in Erfurt.
The background is that the CDU parliamentary group has introduced a draft law that is intended to set a 1000 meter distance between wind turbines and residential buildings. In addition to the FDP parliamentary group, the AfD has also signaled support in the state parliament – which means that the draft has a chance of being approved. In Thuringia, the Left Party, SPD and Greens govern, but only with a minority government.
“There must never be such a thing”
A law against the votes of red-red-green is “a law majority by Höcke’s grace,” explained Kühnert, alluding to the AfD state and parliamentary group leader Björn Höcke. “There has never been anything like this and there should never be.” Apparently, the CDU is of the opinion that in cooperation with the AfD, the exclusion zone only begins with joint coalitions. “Anyone who argues like that hasn’t learned anything.” In Thuringia, the AfD is being monitored by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution because of right-wing extremist tendencies.
The political director of the Federal Greens, Emily Büning, recalled a statement by Merz in December that there would be a firewall with him to the AfD. Now he is silent, she told the “Spiegel”. No party should make itself dependent on the votes of the right-wing extremists. “I expect from the CDU as a democratic force that this firewall stands.”
FDP General Secretary Bijan Djir-Sarai also called on the Christian Democrats to resolve the situation. “The CDU is responsible for preventing the situation created by its application,” said the FDP politician to the editorial network Germany. “It is not clear why she is now provoking this state political situation.”
CDU speaks of “question of reason”
“We independently bring in content-related initiatives that correspond to our goals and convictions – regardless of who is for and who is against,” said CDU parliamentary group leader Mario Voigt on Friday in Erfurt. Basically, it must apply that “the voting behavior in factual questions must follow reason”.
After the criticism from Berlin, he added: “This is about Thuringian issues, and I expect that solutions will also be found here in Thuringia.” The reactions from the federal government showed how far “the Berlin bubble has strayed from the reality of life in rural areas.” Kühnert doesn’t care about the people in Thuringia at all. “The criticism has only one goal: to torpedo Friedrich Merz’s successful course.”
Memories of the election of Kemmerich
The CDU and FDP have already made headlines in Thuringia when dealing with the AfD. On February 5, 2020, the FDP politician Thomas Kemmerich was elected Prime Minister of the Free State with votes from the AfD, CDU and FDP. The AfD had dropped its own candidate and voted for Kemmerich. The Liberal accepted the election. The event triggered a nationwide storm of indignation. The election was often perceived as breaking a political taboo. After public pressure, Kemmerich announced his resignation one day after the vote, which he completed three days after the election.
Federal politicians warn the CDU against AfD votes in Thuringia
Philipp Eckstein, ARD Berlin, June 4, 2022 7:40 p.m